Touch

TICKET COMPETITION

The Wolves Foundation - in conjunction with the Carus Homes Sportsmatch 'Wolves Touch' Programme, would like to offer you the chance to win 2 sets of tickets to Wolves versus Huddersfield on 2nd September 2007.

To enter, simply text Bridge Bar(space)Wolves to 07786 200350

Texts costs the standard network rate.

Touch Rugby is held 6.30pm - 8pm every Monday evening on the area at the back of the Ball Hall at Sir Thomas Boteler High School on Knutsford Road. This is a great opportunity to keep fit and socialise in a friendly environment.

Refreshments are also provided afterwards at The Bridge Bar, Latchford.

FOUNDATION LAUNCH CARUS HOMES SPORTSMATCH 'WOLVES TOUCH' PROGRAMME

This project was officially launched at the recent Super League fixture versus Harlequins on 19th May 2007 with sponsorship from Carus Homes - matched by government funding via Sportsmatch - enabling this innovative project to proceed.

As the only professional sports Club within Warrington, the Wolves are well aware of their responsibilities to promote sport and physical activity among the local community.

This modified version of rugby has been described as 'all the fun without the pain'. The non-contact nature of the sport ensures that it is attractive to potential players of both sexes and is an enjoyable introduction to many aspects of Rugby League.

'Wolves Touch' will be delivered into Warrington's High Schools and seeks to build on the excellent practice existing from previous Sportsmatch Awards. The two-year programme will work within a cluster programme bringing together schools in the area of their local, charter-marked Club.

The main aim of the programme is to help young people (specifically those attending the town's secondary school's) get more from their involvement in Rugby League and to encourage them towards lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity while seeking to improve rugby specific skills as well as more generic sport and movement skills.

THE STORY SO FAR ...
Since September 2006 Special Projects Officer, Brian Chambers, has been training Year 10 Junior Sports Leaders within several of the town's Secondary Schools ' in conjunction with the Junior Rugby League Organisers Award - to deliver the 'Wolves Touch' Programme to their Year 7 pupils. These Sports Leaders will gradually work up through the various age groups to encourage all pupils - both male and female - to take part in the fun game of Touch.

The Official Launch saw a pre-match mini Touch tournament contested by Year 7 boys and girls from Cardinal Newman, St. Gregory's, Padgate and Penketh High Schools. These schools have recently benefited from Touch Rugby coaching by Sports Leaders in their school, and some of these Leaders supervised the competitors, co-ordinated the Tournament and refereed the Touch fixtures.

The Final took place at half-time with the team representing Cardinal Newman High being crowned the eventual winners. Congratulations however are due to each school involved for the wonderful display of newly-gained skills.

A special Award was also made at the Launch to Louise Sullivan, pictured, who was acknowledged as the 'Outstanding Junior Sports Leader 2007', recognising her planning, organisation and communication skills which are vital to the Touch Rugby Programme.

Why Touch?

The increase in rates of child obesity and diabetes suggest that there is an urgent need to encourage lifelong involvement in sport and physical activity. And it's not only health that can benefit, with positive physical activity promoting community well-being and assisting in the reduction of crime.

As many young people reject or prematurely drop out of sport and physical activity, Warrington Wolves recognise that not everyone is predisposed towards Rugby in its purest and most physical form.

The fun, 'non-contact' quality of Touch ensures that it provides a painless, and enjoyable introduction to many aspects of Rugby League, whilst also offering an ideal stepping stone into the full-contact sport. The successful Australian NRL club West Tigers actually recruited their star half back, Benji Marshall, after seeing him play Touch for the New Zealand Schoolboys. However the 'sporting building blocks' which this sport develops- running, jumping, agility, balance and hand-eye coordination-are key components of most sports and their acquisition hopefully encourages participants towards a more physically-active and sporting lifestyle.

Wolves Monday Night Touch - A Successful Pilot

For the last two summers, encouraged by the Rugby Football League, the Warrington Wolves Foundation have successfully ran a weekly 'Touch Rugby' session. The initiative proved so successful that the intended 8 week competition was extended to 5 months, and with minimal promotion the activity was soon operating at or close to its capacity of 60 participants. The wide cross-section of people who participated - from men and women who had never touched a rugby ball before, to ex-professionals (and one 67 year old former Amateur International!), and the almost universal acclaim and enjoyment of the activity provided evidence of the anticipated benefits of the introduction of Touch into the Secondary Schools.

MONDAY NIGHT TOUCH RESUMES

On 2nd April, the Wolves Monday Night Touch Rugby Sessions will resume at a brand new venue.

Still fantastic value at only £1.50, sessions will start at 6.30pm at Sir Thomas Boteler High School, behind the Ball Hall.

For further information, please contact The Foundation offices on 01925 248894.